Can a new born baby taste salt

What an interesting question!

Newborn babies are still developing their sense of taste, and their taste buds are not fully matured at birth. In fact, research suggests that newborn babies are not able to taste salt or any other flavor compounds in the same way that adults do.

Here's why:

  1. Taste buds are still developing: Newborn babies have a limited number of taste buds on their tongues, and these taste buds are not yet fully functional. It takes several weeks for the taste buds to mature and become more sensitive to different flavors.
  2. Salt is a complex flavor compound: Salt is a complex flavor compound that requires the presence of specific taste receptors on the tongue to be detected. Newborn babies lack the specific taste receptors needed to detect salt, making it difficult for them to taste salt.
  3. Other factors influence taste perception: Newborn babies are still learning to distinguish between different flavors and textures, and their taste perception is influenced by other factors, such as the presence of other flavors, textures, and smells.

So, to answer your question, it's unlikely that a newborn baby can taste salt in the same way that an adult can. However, it's important to note that babies are still able to detect certain flavors, such as sweet and sour, and may be able to distinguish between different flavors and textures.

As babies grow and develop, their sense of taste becomes more refined, and they are able to detect a wider range of flavors, including salt.